Store-service apparatus.



G. J. MILLER. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1904.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. J. MILLER.

sToEE sEEvIoE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3 1904.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s rin retainin devices 7 that are the AENT @FFICE.

CHARLES J. MILLER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

STORE-SERVICE APLEARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. MILLER, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to store service apparatus, and the object of the invention is to provide means for imparting an impetus to the cash or package carriers, to drive them from one line station to another.

A further object is to provide a propelling means of simple and economical construction, and one that is compact and neat in appearance, strong and durable and easily operated.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carrier station with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the propelling means in its projected position. Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the propelling means retracted, and its support being in section to show more clearly the operation of the device.

In the drawing, 2 represents a hanger having a head or block 3 at its lower end wherein the station end of the line wire a is secured. The head 3 and the hanger are stayed by the means of the guy wires 5. Friction arms 6 are mounted in the head 3 upon each side of the line wire and carry subject matter of a co-pending application patented January 9th, 1906, No. 809,714. A carrier 8 has wheels 9 adapted to rest and travel upon the wire, and a cash receptacle 10, of the usual type. It will be understood that a carrier supporting a basket or other receptacle will be used whenever desired in place of the cash receptacle. The carrier as it enters the station engages the friction arms, and after passing the spring retaining devices remains stationary until propelled outwardly by the mechanism which I will now proceed to describe.

11 is a rod arranged to slide longitudinally in a hole 12 provided in the head 3 be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 3, 1904.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Serial No. 231,174.

tween the friction arms 6. The forward end of this rod is provided with a block 13 having a yielding plug or button 14 to engage the carrier and an anti-friction wheel or roller 15 that rests upon the line wire and travels thereon. On the opposite side of the hanger 2 a socket 16 is provided for a rod 17 that extends rearwardly parallel with the rod 11 and forms a guide for a block 18 that is secured to the rear end of the rod 11 and has a roller similar to the one described to travel on said rod 17. Yielding blocks or buffers 19 and 19 are provided at each end of the rod 17 to receive the block 18 and take up the impact or momentum thereof. The buffer 19 through the plunger rod acts as a cushion stop for the carrier, especially on a grade line. A guy rod 20 connects the rear end of the rod 17 with the hanger 2, and a pulley 21 is carried by the rear end of the rod 17 around which an elastic cord 22 passes from the hanger 2 to the block 18 below the rod 12.

A pulley 23 is mounted in a bracket 24; beneath the head 3, and a plunger operating cord 25 passes over the pulley 23 and is attached at one end to the block 18, and at the other is provided with a handle 26 that is grasped by the operator when it is desired to drive the carrier from one station to another. The cord 25 is preferably elastic and larger than the cord 22, and consequently, when power is applied and the plunger is temporarily held back by the resistance of the retaining devices, the operating cord will be put under tension and considerable force stored up to drive the plunger forward suddenly and propel the carrier, when the yielding resistance of the retaining devices is overcome. This combination of the re sistance device and the carrier and the re ciprocating plunger driven forward by the elastic operating cord forms a very essential feature of my invention. The use of the resistance and the elastic propelling cord allows the operator to gradually put the propelling cord under tension, and as soon as the resistance is overcome, the plunger will be driven forward quickly and with sufiicient force to propel the carrier to the other end of the line. Without the elastic propelling cord, assuming that a non-elastic one was used in place of it, a quick, short pull would be necessary to project, the plunger and obtain the desired result.

The elastic, retracting and propelling cords may be made of any suitable size and degree of elasticity, according to the force the operator desires to exert on the carrier, care being taken, of course, to provide an operating cord of sufficient strength to overcome the resistance of the retracting cord, and still have sufficient force to project the plunger when the carrier passes over the yielding resistance. In some instances a spring may be substituted in place of the retracting cord,

or one might be used in place of the propelling cord; and the manner of mounting the plunger at the station may be varied according to the position where the hanger is used, and the length or grade of the line. The plunger, having two bearing surfaces, one at each end, will move in a direct line forward and back, and when thrust forward will propel the carrier out of the station over the line wire, smoothly and without oscillation. The friction arms will act as guides during the first part of the movement of the carrier, and the retaining devices will offer sufficient resistance to allow the operator to apply enough force to the carrier to drive it to the neXt station, either over a long level line or on a steep grade. As soon as the propelling cord is released the elastic 22 will return the reciprocating rod or plunger to its .normal position ready for the next operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a store service apparatus, the combination, with a station, a line wire and a carrier, of a resistance device in the path of the carrier leaving said station, a plunger arranged to propel said carrier, propelling and retracting means for saidplunger, said retracting means being weaker than said propelling means, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a hanger, and a head supported thereon, of a line wire secured in said head, a carrier having wheels to rest and travel upon said wire, a rod projecting rearwardly from said head, buffers mounted on said rod, a plunger rod having a slidable support in said head, and a slidable anti-friction connection at each end respectively with the line wire and with said rearwardly projecting rod, and means for projecting said plunger rod to engage and propel the carrier.

3. The combination, with a hanger, of a line wire supported thereon, a carrier having wheels adapted to rest and travel upon said wire, a guide rod supported by said hanger and projecting rearwardly therefrom and having an anti-friction wheel at its rear end, a plunger rod having a sliding connection with said line wire and said guide rod, an elastic retraction cord connected at one end to said plunger rod and passingaround said anti-friction wheel to said hanger, a second anti-frictlon wheel suspended below sald plunger near said hanger, and a propelling cord attached to the rear end of said plunger cord and passing over said last named antifriction wheel, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a hanger and a head or block carried thereby, of a line wire secured in said block, friction arms carried by said block upon each side of said line wire, a carrier having wheels adaptedto rest and travel upon the, line wire, a guide I rod projecting rearwardly from said hanger, a plunger rod having a sliding connection with said line wire and said guide rod, means for projecting said plunger rod into engagement with the carrier, and means for retracting it.

5. In a store service apparatus, the combination, with a station, a line wire and a carrier, of friction arms located in the path of the carrier, a resistance device projecting above said arms, and arranged to offer a yielding resistance to the discharge of the carrier from the station, and a plunger propelling mechanism.

6. In a store service apparatus, the combination, with a station, the line wire and a carrier, of'a resistance device in the path of the carrier leaving said station, a plunger arranged to engage said carrier, elastic propelling and retracting cords for said plunger, and said retracting cord being smaller and weaker than said propelling cord, substantially as described. a r

7. In a store service apparatus, the combination, with a station and a line wire, of friction arms, retaining devices thereon, a carrier adapted to engage said retaining devices, a plunger arranged to engage said carrier, elastic propelling and retracting cords connected to said plunger, and saidretracting cord being smaller and weaker than said propelling cord, substantially as described.

8. In a store service apparatus,the combination, with a station and a line wire, of friction arms, carrier retaining means thereon having a yielding movement independent of said arms, a carrier supported on said wire, a plunger arranged to engage said carrier, and means arranged to be put under tension by the operator for imparting a quick forward thrust to the plunger when said retaining means is overcome, substantially as described.

9. In a store service apparatus, the combination, with a station, a line wire and a carrier, of friction arms, means mounted on said arms in the path of said carrier for bination, with a station, a line wire and a the forward end of said plunger, substancarrier, of a plunger having its forward end tially as described. 10 in the path of the carrier entering the sta- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set tion, a guy rod supporting the rear end of my hand this 27th day of October 1904.

said plunger and whereon said plunger is CHARLES J. MILLER. slidable, and a cushion stop carried by said \Vitnesses:

guy rod and arranged to take up the impact RICHARD PAUL,

caused by the engagement of the carrier with l C. MAGNAMARA. 

